Cards prospect Carson Kelly catching on in position switch with Chiefs

Sunday

May 11, 2014 at 7:24 PM

Dave Eminianof the Journal Star

PEORIA -- Carson Kelly was born and raised to be a baseball player.

“When my parents brought me home from the hospital, my father put a bat in my crib,” the Peoria Chiefs’ budding catcher said, laughing. “That’s a true story. It was there from Day 1. They dressed me in a Cubs outfit and put me in my crib with a bat. I have pictures to prove it.”

Well, his choice of uniform has improved along with his baseball skills as the years have gone by.

Kelly, 19, was the St. Louis Cardinals’ second-round pick (86th overall) in 2012. Baseball America ranks him as the Cardinals No. 11 prospect, while Baseball Prospectus says he’s No. 6. He played third base for the Chiefs last season, but began a transition to catcher over the winter.

Scouts believe he could develop into a hitter with a combination of power and strong on-base percentage, as he seldom strikes out (just 10 times in 115 plate appearances so far in 2014).

“Everything has gone very well (in the position switch),” Cardinals director of player development Gary LaRocque said. “His work ethic is a great factor, and he’s learning how to call the game, set up hitters. We’re very pleased with what he’s put into it.”

It was LaRocque who approached Kelly during 2013 Fall Instructional League play with the idea to convert to catcher.

“I was shocked,” Kelly said. “But after I thought about it, I realized it meant they saw something in me that was positive. And the ability to play third and catcher increases my value, quite honestly.”

He worked in St. Louis with Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, the former major league catcher, and later in spring training with Yadier Molina.

“I hadn’t caught since I was in eighth grade,” Kelly said. “Those guys know so much. What they do is an art. Molina told me he trains not just to catch, but to be the best catcher in the game. He wants to get better every day.

“I don’t know what style catcher I’m going to be yet, I haven’t figured that part out.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder grew up in Beaverton, Ore., just outside Portland. He started playing baseball when he was 4. When the family spent two years living in Toronto, he learned to skate and played hockey at age 12.

Back in Oregon, Kelly starred at Westview High School — where his brother, Parker, is now in his junior season as a catcher/pitcher/shortstop (Kelly: “He’s good. In fact, I think he’s better than me.”).

Kelly was a two-time Oregon Player of the Year choice by Gatorade, and he pitched for USA’s 18-under gold medal winners in the 2011 Pan Am Games. The unassuming prospect was standing in front of his high school classmates at the moment the Cardinals drafted him.

“I was in marketing class, giving a presentation,” Kelly said. “Someone sitting in there had the draft on live stream. Suddenly everyone starts clapping, and I’m thinking ‘Wait, don’t clap yet, I’m not done with this presentation, it’s not over.’

“I didn’t know they were clapping for the draft. I was speechless after that.”

He signed for $1.6 million. The Cards sent him to Johnson City (Appalachian League) in 2012, where he had nine homers and 10 doubles in 56 games. He came right to full-season class-A Peoria in 2013, hit .219 in 43 games, then headed down to short-season State College, where he rebounded to hit .277 with a .340 on-base percentage.

With the Chiefs this season, Kelly is hitting .233 with two homers, four doubles, three triples and 17 RBIs. Behind the plate, he’s thrown out 14 of 34 attempted base stealers, a .412 success rate that is sixth-best among more than 32 regular catchers in the Midwest League.

“Right before the start of every baseball season, my dad (Mike) and I go out on the field and he works me out at every position,” Kelly said. “Infield, outfield, everywhere.

“He always maintained that it was important to build versatility. And now here I am, getting an opportunity.”

Dave Eminian covers the Chiefs and Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Check out his sports blog, Cleve's World, at pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

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